Customer Reviews

Chicot the Jester

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In some ways this is my favorite Dumas and thus I think that it ranks with the Count of Monte Cristo and the Three Musketeers. The action takes place during Henry III's reign and follows two intertwined plot lines: 1)the adventures of Chicot, the king's "jester," and 2) the love intriques of Bussy d'Amboise and the tragic Dame de Monsoreau. The political rivalries of the various aristocratic court factions is entertaining and interesting and, it is my impression, fairly (but not completely) accurate history. Though Chicot is an invention and the historical Bussy (a footnote character of the period) highly highly romanticised. Who cares if a small liberty or two are taken? Chicot is marvelously drawn, a wonderful character who both loves and despises his weak and highly flawed benefactor, Henry III. Chicot is clever, cunning, brave and decent but interested too in his own interests. He is also a proud but poor Gascon gentleman. He manipulates the king for his own amusment but also for good purpose. Were the book only about him it would be a great read. But even better, Dumas gives us Bussy d'Amboise, Louis de Clermont, Comte de Bussy, the brave, proud, handsome, man of honor who personafies the French aristrocratic (especially the post-Revolution, 19th Cent. Romantic notion of,) ethos. The romance between Bussy and La Dame (Diana) is romantic indeed: he is injured in a cowardly ambush (in which he defends himself magnificantly, of course) Diana nurses him but secretly and her identity remains a mystery for sometime. Poor Diana has a tragic situation and eventually, Bussy manages to find her etc... The ending is unforegettable and provides the basis for the sequal: The Forty-Five Guardsmen: an uneven story with some good moments, but sadly, inferior to this. Note: "La Dame" is the sequal to Marguerite de Valois (see film: La Reign Margot aka Queen Margot) I first read this when I was about 19 and it is still great, great fun 21 years later. If you like any Dumas, you'll like this alot. Technically, of course, this is not great literature but it is great in its own way.

Great book if you are a Dumas fan, and especially if you've read "La Reine Margot". But this edition (ISBN 1-60096-103-7) of the book is full of typos. They even misspelled the name on the front cover - if you click on the "Search inside the book", you'll see the name of the book blatantly misspelled as "Chico the Jester". These typos get really annoying in an otherwise great book. I would not buy books from this publisher (Waking Lion Press) any more.

I read this book after I saw movie La Dam de Monsoreau when I visited France with my parents, I was 12. I think the actual book is much better than a movie, Dumas made a good statement in this book by drawing the line between something dirty, which is politics and something that could be so clean, beautiful and yet tragic, which is love. Whenever we love something in this life, we afraid it will be taking away, nothing is permanent. Although this book is a complete fiction, the message in it is very real.
Highly recommended.

Dumas' profound knowledge of French history is amazing. When reading his books, one should always look beyond the plot and read between the lines. He describes the era of intrigues and struggle for power in such a fascinating, colorful and dramatic way that one can only wonder at his talent. Dumas' readers become part of his stories. The ease with which he puts history down on paper truly makes him one of the greatest historians of all times!

The story is one of my favorites. But the book itself is terribly abridged. Whole chapters are missing. I know it because I have read the original. But it's still a great read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to read the sequel. As with all the Dumas I have read, it is escapism at it's finest. No, it wasn't the best novel I ever read, nor the most factual portrayal of history, but it spurred my interest to learn more about the time period and actual characters from history books. This story would make a great screenplay too. I think that is Dumas' genius. He creates great characters and teaches history "romanticized". It is the reader's responsibility to remember that it is embellished and to read other sources for the "truth". These were serials in news papers after all.
The reviewer who over simplifies (denigrates) the story line in their review should be banned from reading Dumas as they miss the point entirely. Dianna was a virtuous woman who was saved from a monster by a monster. She and Bussy were cheated by fate and royalty of their happiness together. The situation drove an otherwise honorable and brave gentleman to compromise his principles for love, thinking justice would be served in the end. He payed the price of poetic justice while acquitting himself well with his sword.
Chicot was paternalistic in dealing with Henri III and not, in my opinion devious or self interested.
And, in a theme I perceive in other of Dumas' works, the common man is subject to the whim of kings and princes while the kings and princes answer to God.
Vive Dumas!

This was quite a treasure for one of the lesser known Dumas novels, after reading all the Classics, I started to get disappointed with what was left (Queen Margot, Knight of Maison Rouge) as it seemed subpar to the more well known novels. Chicot was certainly not a disapoointment. excellent stroy and lots of adventure. Highly recommended

yes its a good book, king henry sits in his castle fagging around, his brother d'anjou wants to be a king, because he's got nothing better to do all day long and has no playstation 2. bussy in love with somebody else's wife and wants to score so is her husband. chicot king's jester is so smart and perceptive that i think the writer of this book used chicot instead of his real name, bussy dies, because he won't give up monsoro's wife and monsoro is so h0rny and because of it very angry. oops i just read you entire book

yes this book is about a love story between bussy and dame monsoro. her husband monsoro is not getting any, how would you feel. this book teaches you a lesson and this lesson, don't buy books you don't know, cause they [are bad]